Uganda Upholds Anti-Homosexuality Law: Court Ruling Sparks Outrage and Legal Battle

Uganda’s constitutional court has upheld an anti-homosexuality law that imposes penalties of up to life in prison for consensual same-sex relations.

The court found that some sections of the bill violated the “right to health, privacy and freedom of religion.” The law, which was signed into law in May last year, toughened up an existing British colonial-era law, under which gay sex was already illegal.

Also, the law prescribes the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality,” defined as cases of sexual relations involving people infected with HIV, minors, and other vulnerable people.

Human rights lawyer Nicholas Opiyo argued that the court justified the law as it discriminated against LGBTQI people and denied them a right to participate in the governance of the country.

Another petitioner, Andrew Mwenda, vowed to appeal to the Supreme Court for overturning the law in its entirety.